Statesmen Swept by #21 Missouri Valley
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Marshall, Mo.–The William Penn volleyball team started well in each set Friday, but could not the momentum alive as it fell 3-0 to #21 Missouri Valley in Heart of America Athletic Conference action.
WPU (6-14, 2-7 Heart), which lost by scores of 15-25, 23-25, 20-25, was outhit .243-.084.
The teams split the first 10 points of the night, but the Vikings (20-2, 8-0 Heart) scored three in a row and never trailed again to claim the opening set.
The visitors were much stronger in the next round, including going up 15-11. MVC recorded six unanswered, but the navy and gold did not surrender, tying the set four more times. In the end, it was the home crew which scored four of the final six points for the 2-0 edge.
The third and final set was unfortunately much of the same. Four of the first five points were won by WPU, and the team was still right there at 15-all, but Missouri Valley closed strong yet again to conclude the sweep.
Jordan Carter (Jr., Sigourney, Iowa, Elementary Education) guided the offense with eight kills and a .333 hitting mark, while Claire Simmons (Sr., Williamsburg, Iowa, Psychology) added six winners.
The coaching staff employed a trio of setters with Caitlin Jamison (So., Winfield, Iowa, Undecided) topping that group with eight assists.
Brittany Weikel (Sr., Remsen, Iowa, Undecided) posted a pair of aces, while Ashley Miller (Jr., Kalona, Iowa, Exercise Science) finished with 19 digs. Kiara Davis (So., Thibodaux, La., Biology) was a major presence at the defensive net with five block assists; WPU outblocked MVC 6-2.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Fayette, Mo. Saturday to compete in a triangular. The Statesmen first meet Central Methodist in Heart action at 11 a.m. and they finish the day against non-conference foe Stephens at 1 p.m.
